f grievances, either by
maladies or by persecutions. The girl to whose care my mother left me,
in arranging my hair used to beat me, and did not make me turn it
except with rage and blows.

Everything seemed to punish me, but this instead of making me turn unto
Thee, O my God, only served to afflict and embitter my mind.

My father knew nothing of all this; his love to me was such that he
would not have suffered it. I loved him very much, but at the same time
I feared him, so that I told him nothing of it. My mother was often
teasing him with complaints of me, to which he made no other reply
than, "There are twelve hours in the day; she'll grow wiser." This
rigorous proceeding was not the worst for my soul, though it soured my
temper, which was otherwise mild and easy. But what caused my greatest
hurt was, that I chose to be among those who caressed me, in order to
corrupt and spoil me.

My father, seeing I was now grown tall, placed me in Lent among the
Ursulines, to receive my first communion at Easter, at which time I was
to complete my eleventh year. And here my most dear sister, under whose
inspection my father placed me, redoubled her cares, to cause me to
make the best preparation possible for this act of devotion. I thought
now of giving myself to God in good earnest. I often felt a combat
between my good inclinations and my bad habits. I even did some
penances. As I was almost always with my sister, and as the boarders in
her class, which was the first, were very reasonable and civil. I
became such also, while among them. It had been cruel to educate me
badly; for my very nature was strongly disposed to goodness. Easily won
with mildness, I did with pleasure whatever my good sister desired. At
length Easter arrived; I received the communion with much joy and
devotion. In this house I staid until Whitsuntide. But as my other
sister was mistress of the second class, she demanded that in her week
I should be with her in that class. Her manners, so opposite to the
other's, made me relax my former piety. I felt no more that new and
delightful ardor which had seized my heart at my first communion. Alas!
it held but a short time. My faults and failings were soon reiterated
and drew me from the care and duties of religion.

As I now grew very tall for my age, and more to my mother's liking than
before, she took care to deck and dress me, to make me see company, and
to take me abroad. She took an inordinate pride in